This book provided so much more than what was promised. At first, I was expecting it to be a comedic story about a wedding and all the shenanigans of the various people involved, but instead I was met with extremely detailed character sketches, political commentary, mythology, history, sociology, and so much more. Liu Xinwu packed an incredible amount into this one book, and I could see it being used as a text from which to learn more about Chinese culture and history. That's not to say that it's dry, though. Each character is fully fleshed out in terms of back story, motives, and inner conflict. Throughout the chaotic day, they fluctuate in their moods and stances in a very real way. I'm really glad to have stumbled upon this!

I absolutely loved the book, Even though as a reader, I feel some things could have been better, the plot sometimes felt dragged, however, I enjoyed the process of reading and finishing this book so much.

Dnf at 23%.
I don’t think this book was for me. I had expected it to contain a funny story about how chaotic a wedding is with eccentric characters adding to the confusion. It clearly is not only that. Don’t get me wrong, it does present a picture of a chaotic wedding with an apprehensive mother of the bridegroom, scared for her son’s big day. She wants everything to go well and is taking it out on her other daughter in law. All fun and frolic, but my main issue was the tangents the author goes on.
The book is not focused on one point and goes to talk in detail about each character’s life. After reading about multiple characters and their lives in detail, even spanning few generations above them I really got bored. I did not see the point of reading thoroughly about each characters life. Was it necessary for the story, idk, I couldn’t wait to find out as my patience wore thin. I think if it would’ve been done a little more cohesively and I would’ve been able to see the connection of it to the main plot, I would’ve definitely read ahead, as I’m always all ears to know more about a character. This is not fleshing out of characters, this is simply going on and on about something and then not adding what substance it’s providing to the story as a whole.
I did not feel the plot as a whole and just as if I’m reading big chunks of information in the vicinity of the main plot but not really connected. An example would be of how the author talks about a fable in which a wastrel princeling kidnaps a girl and then when a supposed hero comes to know about it through her parents, goes and wounds the Prince by gouging out his eyes. Whether she’s saved is not written and I really didn’t see how this tale contributed to the story. There are many such instances and stories around characters lives which I did not see the point of.
Also, now having read multiple translations of different languages, I feel this one really lacked the finesse of pulling a reader into the book. The tenses in some parts really felt off and the overall tone of the book didn’t really click with me.
Also being a non-Chinese person, remembering so many names became a tad bit difficult but I would rather consider it my fault than the author’s. I was really hoping to enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher AmazonCrossing for this ARC.